Book Review: The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club

By Melissa Smoot

2016: Thirty-four-year-old Mari Starwood is still grieving after her mother’s death as she travels to the storied island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. She’s come all the way from California with nothing but a name on a piece of paper: Elizabeth Devereaux, the famous but reclusive Vineyard painter. When Mari makes it to Mrs. Devereaux’s stunning waterfront farm under the guise of taking a painting class with her, Mrs. Devereaux begins to tell her the story of the Smith sisters, who once lived there. As the tale unfolds, Mari is shocked to learn that her relationship to this island runs deeper than she ever thought possible.

1942: The Smith girls—nineteen-year-old aspiring writer Cadence and sixteen-year-old war-obsessed Briar—are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together during World War II as the U.S. Army arrives on Martha’s Vineyard. When Briar spots German U-boats lurking off the island’s shores, and Cadence falls into an unlikely romance with a sworn enemy, their quiet lives are officially upended. In an attempt at normalcy, Cadence and her best friend, Bess, start a book club, which grows both in members and influence as they connect with a fabulous New York publisher who could make all of Cadence’s dreams come true. But all that is put at risk by a mysterious man who washes ashore—and whispers of a spy in their midst. Who in their tight-knit island community can they trust? Could this little book club change the course of the war . . . before it’s too late? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I was left speechless after reading this book. I read a LOT of books, and I love and enjoy so many of them, but this one takes it to a whole new level of loving a book. The Martha’s Vineyard setting, the country reeling from the second world war they were currently embroiled in, and the perfectly charming cast of characters, divine. 

Most people that know me well, know that I usually shy away from historical fiction (unless it takes place in the 1920s), but man am I glad I got the pleasure of reading this one. The story takes us back to 1942 Martha’s Vineyard, the war still far from over. The hopes and dreams of so many young people crushed by the weight of duty, to our country but also to their families, and communities. 

The Island becomes crowded with soldiers conducting training on the beautiful beaches, for them to eventually take that training overseas to storm the beaches of Europe and North Africa. The town is overwhelmed by the sudden thoughts that any one of their neighbors could be Nazi sympathizers or spies. Nobody knows who they can trust, even those that they have lived amongst their entire lives. 

The main characters, the Smith family, must protect themselves as well as their farm. When the grandmother falls ill and the oldest son is shipped off to war, everyone must band together to keep the farm, and the family afloat. Add in a sweet love story, teenage spies, and a little mystery, and you have yourself a winning combination.

This story brought me to tears and I feverishly devoured it until the very end. I can’t imagine the fear and uncertainty of that time in history. I can promise you that if you pick up this book, you will not put it down until you have consumed every last word of it. This one just stole a spot on my “favorite books of all time” list.

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club here.

More by Martha Hall Kelly:

Lilac Girls

Lost Roses

Sunflower Sisters

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Jennifer Moffatt is dancing on air...plus a book giveaway

Introduction by Melissa Amster

Pride Month is almost here and we have the perfect book for the occasion! Jennifer Moffatt is here today to talk about her latest rom-com, Flirty Dancing. This one appeals to me not only because it is LGBTQ+ themed, but also because I was obsessed with Dirty Dancing when I was growing up (and can still watch it anytime and love it all over again) and I also love anything to do with Broadway. It's in my five-book pile and I can't wait to read it soon! Thanks to St. Martin's Press, we have FIVE copies to give away!

Jennifer Moffatt believes that there are so many more romantic stories to tell than the ones that have traditionally been lined up on bookstore shelves, and she plans to write as many of them as she can. Her short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies and literary magazines. Jennifer loves hot summers and potato chips and lives with her family in British Columbia, Canada. Flirty Dancing is her third novel.

Visit Jennifer online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * BlueSky

Synopsis:
Archer Read is 27 and desperate to find his place in life. Five months ago, he quit his soul-destroying accounting job in Ohio and moved to Manhattan with dreams of making it on Broadway. And now he has nothing to show for it but a string of rejections. Even for a ray-of-sunshine like Archer, hope can only go so far. A musical revue at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills, is his last chance to break into show biz—otherwise, it’s back to Ohio, broke and hopeless. He arrives ready to dance his heart out, only to find he’ll be working with his teenage celebrity crush, the Broadway star Mateo Dixon.

What is Mateo doing working at Shady Queens? Besides barking orders and glaring at everyone…when he’s not absolutely smoldering at Archer on the dancefloor. As Archer tries to forget his teen crush and get to know the real Mateo, he’s caught up in a romance with his hot, temperamental bunkmate, Caleb. Between Mateo’s baggage and the dance crew’s drama—partying, flirting, breaking up, getting back together, then breaking up again—it’s no surprise when the show starts to fall apart. Archer quickly discovers that when it comes to dance, sometimes you can’t leave all your problems backstage.

Filled with colorful side characters, about a million Broadway references, and enough drama for a high school summer camp, Flirty Dancing is a delightful romantic comedy that shows love, like art, is worth a little sacrifice.

"With a lovable ensemble cast of oddballs and drama queens, Flirty Dancing is a charming and warm-hearted escape." —Amanda Sellet, author of Hate to Fake it to You

"Filled with romantic flings, unrequited longing, and high kicks, it's the perfect summer read!" 

—Jayne Denker, author of The Rom-Com Agenda

"Charming and steamy in equal measures, FLIRTY DANCING is the queer, frisky romcom we’ve been desperately waiting for." —Lindz McLeod, author of The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing?
I started writing because I wanted to make people feel good. I wanted to create sweet and comforting worlds where my readers could feel like they were falling in love right along with the characters. So anytime anyone connects emotionally with one of my books or stories, those are my favorite compliments. (Although, I will say, for Flirty Dancing, when a theater kid or Dirty Dancing superfan says they loved it… those ones hit a little harder!)
 
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Flirty Dancing?
Flirty Dancing is such a personal book for me because so much of who I am is wrapped up in its pages. So it’s certainly a challenge putting a piece of my soul into the world and letting people do with it what they will. But the reward is the chance to share this story with other people on a similar creative path and make them feel good, especially in today’s climate. That makes all the challenges worth it.
 

If Flirty Dancing were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I would love to cast total unknowns! Hollywood likes to hire the same people over and over, and I can’t think of anyone at the right age with the right look who can sing and dance like Archer and Mateo can. I know there are so many ridiculously talented dancers out there trying to make it, just like Archer. Let’s hold an open call and find them!
 
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
There was a time in my life where I saw just about every movie in the theaters, but now most of the movies I see are ones I can watch with my kids. So can I say Star Wars: Skeleton Crew as my answer, even though it’s a series? I’m a Star Wars nerd, and it was the first Star Wars my kids ever saw. It was so nice to have a series we could sit down to watch together…and, I’m thrilled to report, they loved it. And while I’m already breaking the rules, I have to add Andor to this list. I’m currently watching season two. It’s an incredible piece of art…and I’m obsessed with Denise Gough as Dedra Meero.
 
If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
Kate Winslet or Gillian Anderson, if they don't mind doing a Canadian accent! They’re both so strong and wise and have grown so much throughout their careers. They have the vibe I aspire to. I’d love to have a powerful woman like that narrating my story. 
 
If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I live in the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada, one of the most beautiful places in the world, and right now in late spring it’s all lush and bright green, flowers and trees blooming everywhere. I’d take you to Arrowleaf Cellars, a winery with the most stunning view of vineyards overlooking Okanagan Lake. A carafe of an aromatic white with a box of their handmade cream puffs… absolute heaven. We could do a whole wine tour of the area while we’re at it and cap it off with a delicious regional dinner on a patio while the sun sets over the mountains.

Thanks to Jennifer for chatting with us and to St. Martin's Press for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

Giveaway ends June 3rd at midnight EST. 

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What's in the (e)mail...plus a book giveaway

All (or most) of these books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Apple, Kobo, etc.

NG = NetGalley

Melissa:

The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman from Union Square (NG)
Young Fools by Liza Palmer from Lake Union (NG)

Top Five by/from Judith Natelli McLaughlin (print)

Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q. Sutanto from Berkley (NG)
Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar from Random House (NG)

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church from Sourcebooks (NG)

Far from the A-List by Stephanie Burns from Harlequin (NG)

Designing Daphne by Mia Rosette from Victory Editing (NG)

The White Hot by Quiara Alegria Hudes from Random House (NG)

Good Days Bad Days by Emily Bleeker from Lake Union (NG)

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson from Sourcebooks (NG)

The Weekend Crashers by Jamie Brenner from Harlequin (NG)

Made You Look by Tanya Grant from Berkley (NG)

The Storytellers by Sue Heath from HarperCollins UK (NG)

Sara:

The Bridge by Shanna Hatfield from Roger Charlie (ebook)

Hit For Six by Isabella May from Rachel's Random Resources (ebook)

Rock Star by/from Leigh Court (ebook)

Melissa S:

The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie from Berkley (print)

What could be in YOUR mail:

All the Signs by Jessie Rosen. If you've ever been to Venice (or dreamed about going), the cover alone is going to grab you right away. Buckle up for what sounds like an amazing armchair adventure! Thanks to Putnam, we have one copy to give away!

Leah Lockhart is proudly science-minded and woo-woo averse. But the life she’s carefully curated is knocked suddenly off course, first by a destabilizing case of vertigo, and then by an astrology reading that claims she’s living way out of line with what was written in her stars. 

Incensed, Leah sets off on a mission to prove that astrology is bogus by comparing her life to that of her Star Twins around the world—people born under her exact same map of the stars. But her even deeper guides on a whirlwind journey through Venice, Istanbul, New Orleans, and beyond turn out to be three people already in her orbit: the mother she thinks abandoned her, the father she thinks saved her, and the former boy next door whose love could be the path to her truest self. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"All the Signs is a charming story about love, family, and fate. Jessie Rosen has written delightful and entertaining characters that draw you in and immediately and steal your heart. Once you pick up this book you won’t want to put it down!" 

—Jennifer Close, bestselling author of Marrying the Ketchups

"Jessie has crafted another charming and dreamy journey whisking readers around the world as we follow our heroine's heartfelt and relatable search for purpose." 

—Nikki Erlick, New York Times bestselling author of The Measure

"All the Signs is a quirky journey of self-discovery, as a woman wrestles with and ultimately embraces astrology’s power—not to dictate who we are, but to reveal who we’re meant to be." 

—KJ Dell'Antonia, New York Times bestselling author of The Chicken Sisters

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

Giveaway ends May 28th at midnight EST. 

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Book Review: The House Sitter

By Sara Steven

After my relationship breaks down, I agree to house-sit my brother Dexter's posh apartment whilst he’s out of the country. It will give me some much needed headspace.

Sitting on the balcony one sweltering summer's evening in the midst of a power cut, I'm given a secret window into the lives of the residents in the opposite building, and I see more than I should.

I'm drawn to a man in the penthouse and watch him closely and when a striking woman joins him on the balcony, I can’t tear my eyes away.

The following weekend a woman matching her exact description is reported missing. She’s not been seen since that fateful night.
When I go to the police, the man in the penthouse has a cast-iron alibi and denies she was ever there.

I know what I saw and I can’t let it go.
The deeper I dig, the more dangerous things become.
Someone is watching me too. Just how much can I trust my neighbours? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Keri Beevis is the queen of scary! I love it when I’m not entirely sure who the true culprit is in a thriller, and in The House Sitter, keeping the identity of the culprit hidden was top notch.

Nina is staying at her brother’s place while he’s on vacation, discovering that her brother’s friend, Zac–the guy who actually owns the place–has come back to claim his bedroom and his space. During a late night without power, and without the distraction of Zac, Nina uses her brother’s spare pair of binoculars to do some people watching, quickly finding an awkward and uncomfortable situation unfold between an unknown woman and Julian, the off-kilter rich boy who lives in the penthouse. After the woman goes missing, Nina’s first impression is that Julian must somehow be involved.

From there, Nina falls into a spiral, trying to figure out what really happened to the woman she’d seen with Julian that night, and given his sordid past, it wouldn’t be surprising. There are massive amounts of Nancy Drew-ing while she does her best to discover the truth, only leading her down an unsafe road where nothing is predictable, not even her true feelings and intentions towards Zac, who also gets pulled into the drama.  

In the end, the answers are shocking! It wasn't until about 3/4 of the way through that I started to see clues and scenarios in a whole new light. It’s too easy to make assumptions, so when the suspects who pop up are people I’d never even considered, it made the experience even more exciting. For anyone who wants to partake in a psychological thriller, this–and other books by Beevis–are the way to go! A definite five-star read!  

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

Keri Beevis is the internationally bestselling author of several psychological thrillers and romantic suspense mysteries, including the very successful Dying to Tell. She sets many of her books in the county of Norfolk, where she was born and still lives and which provides much of her inspiration.

Visit Keri online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Sign up for Keri's newsletter.

Visit all the stops on Keri's blog tour:

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Getting in tune with Jane L. Rosen

Photo by Captain W.

Today we welcome Jane L. Rosen back to CLC. She's here to recommend books to anyone who enjoys listening to music of any kind. Her latest novel, Songs of Summer, is sure to put some music into your head without you having to listen to the radio (or music app) first! While it's part of her Fire Island trilogy (all with gorgeous covers), it can be read on its own. (It's kind of fitting to share this after our post about concerts this week.)

Jane L. Rosen is the author of six novels, Nine Women, One Dress, Eliza Starts a Rumor, A Shoe Story, On Fire Island, Seven Summer Weekends, and Songs of Summer. She has a monthly column in the Fire Island and Great South Bay News called Cake or Pie? where she whimsically interviews her fellow authors. She is also a screenwriter and New York Times, Tablet, and Huffington Post contributor.  

Visit Jane online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:
Maggie May Wheeler is living her best life—at thirty, she has big plans for her vintage record shop and is about to be engaged to her childhood best friend. But when she stumbles across a letter she wrote to her future self when she was thirteen, she realizes it may not be enough. The letter ignites a desire to find her birth mother and discover where she really belongs.

Her search takes her to dreamy Fire Island, where her birth mother is a guest at a wedding. As Maggie spies on her biological family, she’s caught between diving into their chaotic lives and returning to her comfortable world. Things heat up when a charming local makes her an offer to crash the wedding as his date.

Is it the island’s magic, the whirlwind of the weekend, or the thrill of a fake beau that has her rethinking everything? Swept away by every love song she hears, Maggie must figure out where her heart truly lies. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

Praise for Jane's writing:

“An irresistible escape.” (On Fire Island)

—Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Five-Star Weekend

“As funny as it is poignant, nostalgic as it is sharp. A beautiful tribute to the summers of our past and to Fire Island. Unforgettable!” (On Fire Island)

—Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

"Jane L. Rosen has a forever fan in me."

—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers

🎸 Books for Music Lovers 🎤

Wherever you spend your summer—by the ocean, on the lake, at the local pool, or lounging in your own backyard—two things make the season complete: a good read and a great playlist. Books and music shape our summer memories just as much as fireworks in the sky or sand between our toes. Some novels tap into the music world directly, with musicians, record stores, or the music biz at the center of the story. Others have titles and lyrics woven into the plot. And some, like my latest, Songs of Summer, hit all those notes. Whether you're a queen of pop, a classic rocker, or someone who just loves a story with a good soundtrack, these books should have you scatting along on your lounge chair.                                                                   

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby   

No list of music-themed books would be complete without High Fidelity, in fact, two of the music-loving characters in my latest novel first bond over their love for the tale of a British record store owner who obsesses over top five lists and ex-girlfriends. A witty, music-soaked exploration of love, heartbreak, and emotional immaturity, High Fidelity takes a sharp, relatable look at how we use music to make sense of our lives.

Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska by Warren Zanes 

Anyone who knows me personally—or even follows me on social—knows that my family and I are huge Springsteen fans. So, when my friend and neighbor, Jean Hanff Korelitz (The Plot, Admission), asked if my husband and I would host her Pop-Up Book Talk with Warren Zanes at our home, we jumped at the chance. The film version of Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, will be out on October 24. Until then, dive into Zanes’s deeply human story of the haunting, stripped-down recording of one of Springsteen’s most iconic and enigmatic albums, Nebraska. This isn’t just for Springsteen devotees—it’s for anyone interested in the raw creative process of an artist taking a huge risk.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

This warm, witty romance centers on a former teen idol whose co-stars have all gone on to greatness—including a pop music icon who she needs to track down so she can finally have her own moment in the sun. Monaghan, beloved for her sharp dialogue and emotional depth, crafts a love story that's also a reflection on fame, nostalgia, and the songs that become part of us. With a vivid musical thread running throughout, it’s a heartfelt hit for romantics and music lovers alike.

The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner

Weiner captures the early-aughts music scene in all its glossy, gritty glory when two musically gifted sisters find themselves on very different paths. The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits is more than a snapshot of a cultural moment—this is a moving story of growth, forgiveness, finding your voice, and realizing you were always enough.

All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster

In the summer of 1967, impulsive, privileged Margot and grounded, hard-working Thea strike up an unexpected friendship during their days working side by side at the local record store. But one tragic August night changes everything. After a decade of silence, Margot reappears without warning, desperate for Thea’s help—and hiding more than one dangerous secret.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Told in a fictional oral history format, this bestselling novel brings to life the rise and fall of a ’70s rock band with stunning realism. Inspired by bands like Fleetwood Mac, Daisy Jones & The Six captures the wild highs and painful lows of making music, living fast, and falling apart. Readers, like me, who wished the fictional band’s songs really existed were granted their wish in 2023, when the book came to life in a mini-series starring Elvis’s granddaughter—Riley Keough.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

In 1970s Baltimore, 14-year-old Mary Jane lands a summer job nannying for a psychiatrist’s daughter—only to discover he’s secretly treating a famous rock star and his glamorous movie star wife in his home. As Mary Jane’s straight-laced world collides with one of sex, drugs, and deep conversations about music and identity, she quietly comes of age in a summer that changes everything.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Bridget, a classical musician and part of a beloved chamber group, retreats to her family’s Connecticut home for a quiet summer—only to have her adult children move in, her love life implode, and her trio threatened by unexpected changes. With charm and wit, Poeppel explores aging, reinvention, and the complicated harmony of family and art.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

At a lavish party in a South American mansion, a world-renowned opera singer performs—and then the house is taken hostage. In the days that follow, captors and captives begin to bond, with music serving as the unlikely bridge between them. Bel Canto is not just about opera, but about beauty, connection, and the transcendent power of art in impossible circumstances. Fun fact: Patchett published an annotated edition of her early work in 2024.

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

This Pulitzer Prize–winning novel captures the passage of time, with each chapter presenting as an individual story—reminiscent of a mixtape. It even has a Part A and a Part B, which can correlate to the A-side and B-side of a record album. Through a wide array of characters—many of whom are linked to the music industry—Egan explores ambition, regret, fame, and digital disruption.

Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen

When Ohio record store owner Maggie Mae Wheeler sets out to find her birth mother, her journey takes an unexpected turn—straight to Fire Island, where she crashes a wedding on the arm of a dashing Rolling Stone reporter. If the premise of my heartfelt addition to the musical fiction genre does not scream playlist, the fact that each chapter is named for a song certainly does. I’m thrilled to report that early readers are loving the immersive experience of singing and dancing along.

Tell us your favorite book about music! Is it listed above or do you have one to add?

Thanks to Jane for a wonderful guest post and to Berkley for coordinating everything.

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Sara and Melissa Talk About...Concerts

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. We are now into our sixth year!

This month, we are talking about our most memorable concert experiences. We'd love to know what yours are, so please don't hesitate to share in the comments!

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them. 

Sara Steven:

The first concert I ever attended was to see the rock group Quarterflash with my dad at the Oregon State Fair. I think I was six at the time, and given the concert was held outdoors at the Salem Fairgrounds, I remember it was a warm night, with lots of people, and the songs were really loud. I really don’t remember a whole lot about it, but I still enjoy a few songs from Quarterflash and even have those songs on my current playlist. Music was always a big deal in my family, so it doesn’t surprise me that my dad would take me to a concert at such a young age.

It was nearly a decade later when I saw SWV at the same venue. This time, at fourteen, I went with a group of friends, and we felt like grown ups out on the fairgrounds without adult supervision. The State Fair is always held during summer months, and even though SWV performed during daytime hours, the heat didn’t bother me. One friend ended up on stage during the song “Right Here,” and I accidentally left my purse on the bleachers and never got it back. All in all, it felt like a pretty momentous occasion.

During my teen years, I went through a phase where I’d go to late-night indie concerts in downtown Salem. I still have an old flyer from one of the concerts I attended, back in 1995. I know it’s advertised for “all ages,” but during Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’s “Sockable Face,” a majority of the crowd broke out into a gigantic mosh pit, with many of the concertgoers throwing punches at one another. I sat on a tall male friend’s shoulders, so I didn’t get caught up in the drama, but it’s still one of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever attended. They really put on an amazing show.

One of my favorite groups, Garbage, did the college circuit back when we were about to hit the new millenia. I had moved to Arizona to live with my then-boyfriend, who drove us from the Phoenix area to Tucson’s University of Arizona. I could not believe my good fortune to get to see them in concert. At one point, two random strangers we didn’t know pulled us down through the crowd right to the front of the stage, and if anyone has ever attended a Garbage concert and had the privilege to be close to Shirley Manson, you know just how attentive she is with her fans. It feels like she’s singing just for you. I saw them again in the early 2000’s, when they opened for No Doubt, and again last year when they were in Arizona again. In some strange way, it felt a little like I’d come full circle, considering I’d seen Garbage when I first moved to Arizona when I was just a kid, then moved away and lived a whole lifetime before moving back to the valley of the sun and going to a Garbage concert again 25 years later. Much like the first time, I was only four rows back from the stage, and even though I’m a bit older, I felt like I was a young adult, getting to witness the band’s charm all over again. It was magical.  

Melissa Amster:

I will be honest here...concerts aren't really my thing. I've gone to them and they were fun enough, but I prefer to spend my money on musicals. To me, concerts are people standing on a stage singing the same songs that are on their CDs. However, I will admit to some concerts being memorable. 

My first concert ever was Michael Jackson's Thriller tour when I was maybe around seven years old. I was obsessed with his Thriller album at the time and was so excited to see him perform live. I even got a program that I'd look at all the time. The only disappointment was that when we thought we had good seats, there were actually a whole set of rows on the lawn in front of us. (This was at what was once known as Commiskey Park in Chicago.) In any case, it was a cool experience to have as a kid who couldn't stop listening to his music.

Courtesy of YouTube

When I was in eighth grade, I went to the New Kids on the Block concert with my best friend and sister. My best friend's mother was the chaperone. I was a huge NKOTB fan at the time, so this concert was a huge deal. I even cried when I saw Joey through our shared set of binoculars. Years later (like in our early 40s), my best friend and I saw a NKOTB concert again, this time with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul performing, as well. It was a fun and nostalgic evening and we were definitely screaming for our favorite New Kids. 

I got to see Barenaked Ladies twice (once when Alanis Morissette was also performing) and they put on a good show too. I also got to see Wham and Whitney Houston when I was a kid. (I feel like I curse people I see concerts for...MJ, George Michael, and Whitney are now long gone. I also went to a concert at the Grand Ole Opry--same year as the second NKOTB concert--and a few months later one of the performers--from Montgomery Gentry--was killed in a plane crash.) I also saw the Dixie Chicks back when I was into their music. 

This leads me to the most memorable concert of my life...Weird Al. When I was going into freshman year of college, we had an orientation weekend and Weird Al did a free concert for all the freshmen. It was such an entertaining evening. He'd practically do music videos instead of just standing on stage and singing. Between songs, he'd play these videos of fake interviews (where it looked like he was interviewing celebrities but he was actually asking his own questions and playing their responses to other questions). So hilarious! This is one he did with Bruce Springsteen. The best was when he introduced "Headline News" and everyone screamed when he got to the Bobbitt part. (Yes, this was in the mid-90s.) I also remember that there was a Weird Al lookalike in the audience. I still talk about this concert and what a great time I had there. Weird Al is still iconic, but I love his older music more than his new stuff. I'm more old school for the songs I grew up with. 

Courtesy of YouTube

There you have it on my concert background! 

What is your most memorable concert?

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Book Review: Beach House Rules

When Charlotte Sitterly’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI and—what’s potentially even worse—thrust into the spotlight of @JuniperShoresSocialite, the town’s snarky anonymous Instagram account. Cut off from her bank accounts and feeling desperate, Charlotte takes up an acquaintance’s offer to stay at a beachfront former bed-and-breakfast that’s home to a community of single mothers and draws plenty of gossip in the small coastal North Carolina town.

Charlotte and Iris find solace and are surprised by how much fun they’re having with the other families despite their circumstances. But when the women discover a secret link between them, it changes everything they thought they knew about the unconventional family they’ve created and leaves them wondering whether their coming together was a coincidence at all. Will the skeletons in the mommune closets help Charlotte and Iris reclaim their place in the Juniper Shores community—or shatter the sisterhood forever? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Sara Steven:

I want a mommune like this one! 

The women who inhabit the beach house are extraordinary characters, but their experiences are very relatable. While most of us might not know what it would be like to have a spouse arrested for a white-collar crime, we can relate to what Charlotte feels when she has to figure out how to take care of herself, and her daughter, Lily. Alice is the owner of the home the women live in, choosing to surround herself with other people’s families and children because she has shut herself off from that path, due to immense grief in her life. Grace is navigating a long-distance marriage while also raising her two children, and Julie (Alice’s niece) uses the mommune as a respite from unrelenting family members. All four women are navigating through their own issues, but are there for one another as a support system.

But no one outside of the mommune understands the mommune, which leads to various skeptics and gossip and added stress placed on Charlotte. She is trying to prove her husband’s innocence, but no one will listen or believe her. Told from three different perspectives, I felt it really gave me a better look inside, and I never felt lost within the plot. The secret link and the real reason Charlotte is part of the mommune was pretty pivotal, and when we find out who the Juniper Shores Socialite really is, it was a big reveal! 

While Beach House Rules focused largely on the bonds of friendship and sisterhood, I also appreciated the coming-of-age viewpoint for Lily, too. Her can do attitude was infectious, and I loved the parts of the book where she showcases some of her Nancy Drew skills. The entire experience is worth five stars, all the way!  

Melissa Smoot:

Beach House Rules was such a wonderfully heartwarming story. I am a sucker for a great summer read, but this was more than that. I found myself feeling sad when I finished it. The premise of several women living in a beautiful beach home and raising children together, sharing chores, and helping one another heal from their respective pain was such a cute idea.

All the women were going through different, but the same, types of personal trauma. They all had secrets and reasons to lean on one another. The friendships that came from sharing their lives and depending on others to make it through, are the kind of female bonds most women hope for in life. 

I enjoyed the beautiful North Carolina beach setting, as well as the addition of giving us the POV of some of the teenagers involved. It really helped to set the tone for the plot and gave us more depth than just reading about how the adults in the story were feeling. The dichotomy between the two age groups really tied it all together and showed that there are multiple ways to assess a situation.

I felt like the character development was done in such a perfect way that it seemed I personally knew these people, and I rooted for each of them. There was a dash of mystery and suspense in this story that I was not expecting, and it made it even more enjoyable. I love that feeling of burning through the pages to find out what happens, and this book delivered. I loved this book and would definitely recommend adding it to your summer reading list.

Thanks to Angela Melamud for the book in exchange for an honest review. Enter to win a copy over at Goodreads! (US only, ends May 26th.)

More by Kristy Woodson Harvey:

A Happier Life

The Summer of Songbirds

Slightly South of Simple

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